Figurative Paintings
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero finds inspiration in observing fellow artists at work. This vibrant oil painting features a window designer along the sidewalk of midtown ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero enjoys observing other artists at work. This piece portrays a fellow painter working on a water lily as she nears completion. Vivid colors...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Oil
Artist Comments
A young woman sits on the grass, deeply engrossed in painting the scenery before her. Loose brushwork and palette knife techniques bring to life the graceful li...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Warren Keating depicts a gentleman he frequently encounters on the rail trails in Santa Fe. His bright red suspenders sparkle against the stark desert la...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Oil, Acrylic
1890s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
This painting combines two of artist Onelio Marrero's interests: his love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and his fascination with observing...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 2000s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Figurative Paintings for Sale
Figurative art, as opposed to abstract art, retains features from the observable world in its representational depictions of subject matter. Most commonly, figurative paintings reference and explore the human body, but they can also include landscapes, architecture, plants and animals — all portrayed with realism.
While the oldest figurative art dates back tens of thousands of years to cave wall paintings, figurative works made from observation became especially prominent in the early Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance masters created naturalistic representations of their subjects.
Pablo Picasso is lauded for laying the foundation for modern figurative art in the 1920s. Although abstracted, this work held a strong connection to representing people and other subjects. Other famous figurative artists include Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Figurative art in the 20th century would span such diverse genres as Expressionism, Pop art and Surrealism.
Today, a number of figural artists — such as Sedrick Huckaby, Daisy Patton and Eileen Cooper — are making art that uses the human body as its subject.
Because figurative art represents subjects from the real world, natural colors are common in these paintings. A piece of figurative art can be an exciting starting point for setting a tone and creating a color palette in a room.
Browse an extensive collection of figurative paintings on 1stDibs.